Apparatus for measuring limbs



' arch 1927. M A. THlEL ET AL APPARATUS FOR MEASURING LIMBS Filed Aug. 8. 1925 Irv/6 0" AnZ'qn T4022, and will Lye/Hid:

Altar-way Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES ANTON'THIEL AND WILLY SCHMIDT, 0F BREMEN, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING L IIV EBS.

Application filed August 8, 1925, Serial No. 49,030, and in Germany November .22, 192 4.

Hitherto in orthofpedical practice, shortening of theleg has been measured by placing books, piecesof wood or cork or the likeunder ,the shortened leg, and judging the -mcasurement s therefrom. Accuracy is not ensured, however, by this method.

According .to the present invention a measuring apparatus is provided by which a very exact determination of the length of alimband particularly of the extent of the shortening of aleg, can be obtained A constructional example of a measuring apparatus according to the invention is illustrated .in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l-shows a perspective view of the apparatus. b

-Figure 2 showsa detail view of the adjusting-apparatus on an enlarged scal.e, .and

Figures 3 and 4 show the foot supporting plates on an enlarged scale.

The apparatus comprises a horizontal pedestal or base plate a with avertical member Z), which is provided with six-slots and is conveniently attached as shown by a pair of hinges 1" and 0, to-the pedestal a. y

In the vertical member 1) two adjustment spindles e and cl, are carried, whichspindles are supported rotatably in bearings at .g and 7". v

Co-operating with each spindle is a threaded nut provided with laterahextem sions. These nuts arev atthe back of the apparatus and are shown in Figure lin dotted lines. The said nuts are indicated by the letters It and The spindle c with its nut 7: is shown in Figure 2 on a larger.- scale than in Figure l. Thenuts h and-2' are respectively provided with three holes sdisposed horizontally in line. Each of these holes registers with one of the above mentioned slots in the member Z).

The nuts serve to carry the foot supporting plates 'n and 0.

These supporting plates are shaped to correspond to the shape of the foot and are provided with pins Z and k, by which they are carried in the said holes in the nuts. One of the nuts carries the support n for the heel. and the other the support 0 for the ball of the foot. The shape of these two supports 01. and 0 is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 on a larger scale than in Figure 1.

The supporting plates can be carried at various distances from each other so as to accommodate any length of foot (heel to ball). It is for this purpose that each nut isprovided with the above mentioned three holes 8. j i

The supporting plates 71 and 0, on they nuts iand 71. can be raised or lowered by turning the spindles e and d. v

A measurement chart is provided on the member 6, over which the supporting plates are movable. j

The member bis locked in position with respectto the pedestal a by the locking device m. ,The apparatus can be folded together about the hinges c and r.

The method of operation is asfollows:-

The patient stands with the foot of the longer leg on the pedesta-l a: and with the foot of the shortened leg onthe two supporting plates n and 0, which are adjusted according to the length of hislfoot.

The supporting plates are then adjusted -,vertically by turning the spindles. eand (l, and the position of thefoot for the shortened leg is thus judged. When the foot is at the correct height the supporting ,plates are raised thereto and theextent of shorteningof the leg is read off from .the Incasuring chart. H v

The invention is not restricted to the use of two adjusting spindles as above described, but any suitable numbenmay be provided. For example, a single spindle wouldsufiice by means of which. a nut carrying both supporting plates could be adjusted.

What we claim is l r I 1. A n apparatus for measuring, the length of a'leg, comprising a pedestal, a vertical measurement chart mounted thereon, a

threaded spindle, bearings for said spindle on said pedestal, an ad ustable nut mounted on said spindle, a foot support carried by said nut in proximity to the chartand means for rotating said spindle.

V .2. An apparatus for measuring the length of a leg comprising a pedestal, a member mounted thereon having a series of slots on one face, a threaded spindle mounted in proximity to said member, an adjustable nut mounted on the spindle having lateral extensions with holes therein in registration with said slots, means for rotating the spindle, a measurement chart mounted on said member, a foot support adapted to lie in proximity to said chart and a pin on said foot support adapted to pass through one 01"" said slots and to enter one of said holes in said nut extensions.

8. An apparatus for measuring the length of a leg, comprising a pedestal, a vertical member mounted thereon, having a series of vertical slots on one face, a pair of vertical threaded spindles, bearings for said spindles on said vertical member, an adjustable nut on each spindle having lateral extensions with holes therein in registration with said vertical slots, a measurement chart mounted on said vertical member, a support for the heel of the foot adapted to lie in proximity to said chart and to be attached to said nut extension by a pin adapted to pass through one of said slots and to enter one of said holes in said nut extension, a second support for the ball of the foot carried by the other of said spindles in pr .)xin'1ity to said chart and attached to the nut extension of its soindle by a pin adapted to pass through one of said slots and to enter one of said holes in said nut extension and means for rotating said spindles.

An apparatus for measuring the length of a leg, comprising a pedestal, a vertical. member mounted thereon, a vertical measurement chart mounted on said member, a pair of vertical threaded spindles, bearings for said spindles on said member, an adjustable nut on each spindle, a support for the heel of the foot carried by one of said nuts in proximity to said chart, a support for the ball of the foot carried by the other of said nuts in proximity to said chart and means "for rotating said spindles.

5. An apparatus for measuring the length of a leg, comprising a pedestal, a vertical member hinged thereto, a vertical measurement chart mounted on said member, a pair of vertical threaded spindles, bearings for said spindles on said member, an adjustable nut on each spindle, a support for the heel of the foot carried by one of said nuts in proximity to said chart, a support for the ball of the foot carried by the other of said nuts in proximity to said chart and means for independently rotating each spindle.

6. An apparatus for measuringthe length of a. leg, comprising a pedestal, a vertical meml er mounted thereon, a vertical measurement chart mounted thereon, a plurality of vertical threaded spindles, bearings for said spindles on said member, an adjustable nut on each spindle, a support for the heel of the foot carried by one of said nuts in proximity to said chart, a support for the ball of the foot carried by another of said nuts in proximity to said chart, and means for rotating the spindles.

7. An apparatus for measuring; the length of alimb comprising a base plate provided with a verti al member, said vertical member having a measurement chart thereon; a pluralityot rotatable spindles mounted in said member; and means mounted on said spindles adapted to act as a foot support and being adjustable vertically by means of the rotatable spindles.

8. An apparatus for measuring the length of a limb comprisinga base plate provided with a vertical member, said vertical member having a measurement chart thereon; a plurality of rotatable spindles mounted in said member; and a support for each spin dle adapted to act as foot supports and being adjustable vertically by means of the rotatable spindles.

9. An apparatus for measuring the length of a limb comprising a base plate provided with a vertical member, said member having a measurement chart thereon and being provided with a plurality of slots; a plurality of rotatable spindles mounted in said slots; and a support for each spindle adapted to act as foot supports and being adjustable vertically by means of the rotatable spindles, said supports cooperating with said chart in order to determine the length measurement.

10. An apparatus for measuring the length of a limb, comprising a base plate provided with vertical member, said member having a measurement chart thereon and being provided with a slot; a rotatable spindle mounted in said slot; and a support for said spindle adapted to act as a foot support and being adjustable vertically by means of the rotatable spindle, said support cooperating with said chart in order to determine the length measurement.

In testimony whereof we ai'iix our signatures.

ANTON THIEL. WILLY SCHMIDT. 

